Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to findable golf balls

ABSTRACT

Golf balls and a system for finding golf balls and methods for making golf balls and methods for using such balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shell and a tag which is disposed within the core material and which has at least one perforation. The tag includes a diode and an antenna which are coupled together. Another exemplary golf ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased within the shell and a tag which is within the core material and which includes an electrical element which is coupled to an antenna; the tag is detectable over a range of at least 20 feet from a handheld device, and the golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with the golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/346,919 filed on Jan. 17, 2003, and claims priority to saidfiling date.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The inventions relate to sports, such as golf, and more particularly togolf balls, methods for making golf balls and systems for use with golfballs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf balls are often lost when people play golf. The loss of the ballslows down the game as players search for a lost ball, and lost ballsmake the game more expensive to play (because of the cost of new balls).Furthermore, according to the rules of the U.S. Golf Association, aplayer is penalized for strokes in a round or game of golf if his/hergolf ball is lost.

There have been attempts in the past to make findable golf balls inorder to avoid some of the problems caused by lost balls. One suchattempt is described in German patent number G 87 09 503.3 (HelmutMayer, 1988). In this German patent, a two piece golf ball is fittedwith foil reflectors which are glued to the outer layer of the core. Ashell surrounds the foil reflectors and the core. Each of the reflectorsconsist of a reflected signal to be double the frequency of a receivedsignal. A 5 watt transmitter, which is used to beam a signal toward thereflectors, is used to find the ball. The ball is found when a reflectedsignal is generated by the foil antenna and diode and reflected backtoward a receiver. The arrangement of the reflectors and diodes on theball in this German patent causes the ball to have poor durability andalso makes the ball difficult and expensive to manufacture. The impactof a club head hitting such a ball will rapidly cause the ball torupture due to the interruption of the shell/core interface by the foilreflectors. Furthermore, the presence of the reflectors at thisinterface will negatively affect the driving distance of such a ball.

Another attempt in the art to make a findable golf ball is described inPCT patent application no. WO 0102060 A1 which describes a golf ball foruse in a driving range. This golf ball includes an active RadioFrequency Identification Device (RFID) which identifies a particularball. The RFID includes an active (e.g., contains transistors) ASIC chipwhich is energized from the received radio signal. The RFID device ismounted in a sealed capsule which is placed within the core of the ball.The RFID device is designed to be used only at short range (e.g., lessthan about 10 feet). The use of a sealed capsule to hold the RFID withinthe ball increases the expense of making this ball.

Other examples of attempts in the prior art to make findable golf ballsinclude: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,626,531; 5,423,549; 5,662,534; and 5,820,484.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to findable golf balls aredescribed herein.

In one exemplary embodiment of an aspect of the invention, a golf ballincludes a shell, a core material which is encased in the shell, and atag which is disposed in the core material and which has at least oneperforation. The tag includes a diode which is coupled to an antenna. Inone particular embodiment, the at least one perforation is a void oropening within the outer perimeter of the tag.

In one exemplary embodiment of another aspect of the invention, a golfball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shelland a tag which is disposed within the core material and which isdetectable with a handheld transmitting/receiving device over a range ofat least about 20 feet (separating the tag and the handheldtransmitting/receiving device). The golf ball has high durability (e.g.,most such balls can normally survive at least 20 cannon hits usingstandard testing methodology used by the golf industry) andsubstantially complies with golf ball specifications of the U.S. GolfAssociation or the golf ball specifications of the Royal & Ancient GolfClub of St. Andrews.

A system, according to an exemplary embodiment of another aspect of theinvention, includes a golf ball, having a tag which includes an antennaand a diode, and a handheld transmitting/receiving device which iscapable of detecting the tag over a range of at least 20 feet and whichcomplies with regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.

A method of making a golf ball, according to an exemplary embodiment ofanother aspect of the invention, includes forming a core precursormember having a first portion and a second portion; placing a tagbetween the first portion and the second portion, the tag having atleast one perforation; placing the first and second portions, with thetag between the portions, into a mold structure; molding the portions,containing the tag, wherein the molding causes material from one of thefirst and second portions to extrude into the at least one perforationto contact the other of the first and second portions. A core member,formed either directly from the molding process or through processesafter the molding, is then encased in a shell. The first and secondportions may be created separately through a molding process whichcreates each portion individually, or they may be created through amolding process which creates a slug which is then sliced substantiallyin half to form both portions.

Also described herein are several embodiments of handheldtransmitter/receivers which may be used to find golf balls containing atleast one tag. These handheld transmitter/receivers are, in certainembodiments, designed to find golf balls at a range of at lease about 20feet and are designed to substantially comply with governmentalregulations regarding radio equipment such as Federal CommunicationsCommission (FCC) regulations. For example, these certain embodiments aredesigned to transmit less than, or equal to, about 1 watt maximum peakpower or about 4 watts effective isotropic radiated power.

Also described herein are several alternative embodiments of a tag whichincludes two diodes which are coupled in parallel between two antennaportions. This tag, in one embodiment, is placed within the corematerial of a golf ball. This double diode tag may be used as analternative to the various tags shown herein by substituting the doublediode arrangement for the single diode shown in the various tags herein.

Also described herein are several embodiments of tags which have antennaportions in more than one plane. These tags may be considered to bethree-dimensional tags, such as several different disclosed embodimentsof spiral tags or tags which are initially a planar structure but arethen bent or formed into a non-planar structure.

Also described herein are several embodiments of methods for operating agolf course, such as an 18-hole golf course. These methods includegiving discounts to golfers who would play with their findable balls andhandheld units. Other such methods include searching for lost, findableballs after a golf course has been closed, and cutting the grass in therough areas less often (such that this grass grows higher than on golfcourses which do not use findable balls).

Other embodiments of golf balls, handheld transmitter/receivers, balland handheld systems, and methods of manufacturing balls and methods ofusing the balls are described. Other features and embodiments of variousaspects of the invention will be apparent from this description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1A shows a system for finding a golf ball according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a handheldtransmitter/receiver which may be used with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a handheld transmitter/receiver of FIG.1B.

FIG. 2A is an electrical schematic which illustrates an embodiment of acircuit for a tag according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2B shows a structural representation of the circuit of FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 2C and 2D are electrical schematics which show other exemplaryembodiments of a circuit for a tag according to one aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a golf ball which is one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the same golf ball shown in FIG.3A, except at a different cross-sectional slice of the golf ball.

FIG. 3C shows a magnified view of a portion of the golf ball shown inFIG. 3B.

FIG. 3D shows another cross-sectional view of the golf ball of FIG. 3A;this view shows various dimensions for one particular embodiment.

FIG. 3E shows a cross-sectional view, taken in a plane which isperpendicular to the plane of the tag shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball with a tag according to the present invention.

FIG. 4B shows the golf ball of FIG. 4A at a different cross-sectionalview.

FIG. 4C shows a magnified view of a portion of the golf ball shown inFIG. 4B.

FIG. 4D shows the same cross-sectional view as FIG. 4A with specificmeasurements for a particular embodiment of a golf ball according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5A shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5C shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5D shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5E shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5F shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5G shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5H shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5I shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5J shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5K shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5L shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5M shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golfball of the invention.

FIG. 5N shows a plain view of a tag which may be used in a golf ballaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5O shows a plain view of another tag which may be used in a golfball according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5P shows a plain view of another embodiment of a tag which may beused in a golf ball according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D show diagrammatically one embodiment of amethod for making a golf ball of the present invention.

FIG. 6E shows another embodiment of a method of making a golf ball.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of one exemplary process for making a golfball of the present invention.

FIG. 8A shows a block diagram schematic of a handheldtransmitter/receiver of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B shows a block level schematic representation of an embodiment ofa transmitter/receiver.

FIG. 8C shows a block level schematic of an embodiment of a handheldtransmitter/receiver of the present invention.

FIG. 8D shows a block-level schematic of an embodiment of a handheldtransmitter/receiver of the present invention.

FIG. 9A shows an exemplary embodiment of a tag having a spiral antenna.

FIG. 9B shows an exemplary embodiment of another tag having a spiralantenna.

FIG. 9C is an electrical schematic showing the circuit formed by a taghaving a spiral antenna.

FIGS. 9D, 9E and 9F show various examples of tags having spiral antennaswhich have been placed within a slug which is to be molded to form agolf ball core.

FIG. 9G shows another exemplary embodiment of a tag having a spiralantenna.

FIG. 9H shows another exemplary embodiment of a tag having a spiralantenna.

FIG. 10A shows an example in a top view of a three-dimensional taghaving, in this case, a shape which resembles the letter “S.”

FIG. 10B shows an embodiment of a slug which has been cut or formed inorder to receive the tag of FIG. 10A. A view of FIG. 10B is a top viewshowing the two portions of the slug.

FIG. 10C shows another example of a three-dimensional tag. A view ofFIG. 10C is a top view, which resembles a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 10D shows an example of a slug which is cut or formed to receivethe tag of FIG. 10C. A view of FIG. 10D is a top view of the twoportions of the slug.

FIG. 11A shows a motorized golf cart having a cradle and a rechargingmechanism for a handheld unit.

FIG. 11B shows an example of a pull cart having a cradle for a handheldunit of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of one method of operating a golfcourse utilizing findable balls and handheld units of variousembodiments of this invention.

FIG. 13 shows another exemplary method of making a golf ball having atag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments and aspects of the invention will be described withreference to details set below, and the accompanying drawings willillustrate the invention. The following description and drawings areillustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limitingthe invention. Numerous specific details such as sizes and weights andfrequencies are described to provide a thorough understanding of variousembodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances,well-known or conventional details are not described in order to notunnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail.

FIG. 1A shows an example of the system which uses a handheldtransmitter/receiver to find a findable golf ball. A person 18 such as agolfer, may carry a handheld transmitter/receiver which is designed tolocate a findable golf ball 10 which includes a tag 12 embedded in thegolf ball. The handheld transmitter/receiver 14 may operate as a radarsystem which emits an electromagnetic signal 16 which then can bereflected by the tag 12 back to the transmitter/receiver which can thenreceive the reflected signal in a receiver in the handheld unit 14.Various different types of tags, such as tag 12, are described furtherbelow for use in the golf ball 10. These tags typically include anantenna and a diode coupled to the antenna. The diode serves to doublethe frequency of the reflective signal (or to provide another harmonicof the received signal), which makes it easier for the receiver todetect and find a golf ball as opposed to another object which hasreflected the emitted signal without modifying the frequency of theemitted signal. The tag within the golf ball 10 is typically positionednear the center of the ball and it is positioned such that the symmetryof the ball is maintained. For example, the center of gravity (andsymmetry) of a ball with a tag is substantially the same as a ballwithout a tag. The tag in certain embodiments is of such a weight andsize so that the resulting ball containing the tag has the same weightand size as a ball which complies with the United States GolfAssociation specifications or the specifications of the Royal & AncientGolf Club of St. Andrews (“R&A”). Furthermore, in certain embodiments, aball with a tag has the same performance characteristics (e.g. initialvelocity) as balls which were approved for use by the United States GolfAssociation or the R&A. In certain embodiments, the tag may include aperforation or void or hole, often within the outer perimeter of thetag's antenna. This perforation or void or hole increases the durabilityof the ball, typically by allowing the two portions to mate through theperforation and/or by allowing the core rubber composition to flowthrough the perforation to give greater strength within the ball. Thus,the durability of the ball is significantly improved.

The handheld unit 14 shown in FIG. 1A may have the form shown in FIGS.1B and 1C. This form, shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, is one example of manypossible forms for a handheld unit. This handheld device is typically asmall device having a cylindrical handle which may be 4-5 inches long,and may have a diameter of approximately 1.5 inches. The cylindricalhandle, such as handle 21, is attached to a six-sided solid whichincludes an antenna, such as the antenna casing 22 shown in FIGS. 1B and1C. FIG. 1B is a side view of a handheld transmitter/receiver which maybe used in certain embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1C is aperspective view of a handheld unit shown in FIG. 1B. The handheld unitis preferably compliant with all regulations of the FederalCommunications Commission and is battery powered. The batteries may behoused in the handle 21, and they may be conventional AA batteries whichmay be placed into the handle by a user or they may be rechargeablebatteries which can be recharged either through the use of an ACwall/house socket or a portable rechargeable unit (e.g. in a golf cart).In order to comply with regulations of the Federal CommunicationsCommission (FCC) or other applicable governmental regulations regardingradio equipment, the handheld may emit pulsed (or non-pulsed) radar witha power that is equal to or less than 1 watt. In certain embodiments,the handheld unit may emit through its transmitter pulsed radar signalsup to 1 watt maximum peak power and up to 4 watts effective isotropicradiated power (EIRP). Thus, the handheld unit for locating golf ballsmay be sold to and used by the general public in the United States.Several embodiments of handheld transmitters/receivers are describedfurther below. At least some of these embodiments may be sold to andused by the general public in countries other than the United Statesbecause the embodiments meet regulatory requirements of those countries.For example, a handheld unit for use and sale in the European Union willnormally be designed and manufactured to meet the CE markingrequirements and the National Spectrum Authority requirements per theR&TTE (Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment) Directive.

FIG. 2A shows an electrical schematic of a tag according to oneembodiment. The circuit of the tag 50 includes an antenna having twoportions 52 and 54. The portion 52 is coupled to one end of the diode56, and the portion 54 is coupled to the other end of the diode 56. Atransmission line 58 which includes an inductor is coupled in parallelacross the diode 56 as shown in FIG. 2A. The diode 56 is designed todouble the received frequency so that the reflected signal from the tagis twice (or some harmonic) of the received signal. It will beappreciated that the double harmonic described herein is one particularembodiment, and alternative embodiments may use different harmonics ormultiples of the received signal. FIG. 2B shows a structuralrepresentation of the circuit of FIG. 2A. In particular, FIG. 2B showsthe antenna portions 52 and 54 coupled to their respective ends of thediode 56 which is in turn coupled in parallel to a transmission line 58.In one embodiment of the circuit 70, the diode 56 may be a diode fromMetelics Corporation, part number SMND-840, which is available in apackage referred to as an SOD323 package. The circuits shown in FIGS. 2Aand 2B may be implemented in structures that have various differentshapes and configurations as will be apparent from the followingdescription.

FIGS. 2C and 2D show two exemplary embodiments of a tag which uses twodiodes which are coupled in parallel between the two antenna portions.Any of the various tags (e.g. shown in FIG. 3A-5P or 9A-9H or 10A or10C) shown or described herein may use either of the circuits of FIG. 2Cor 2D rather than the single diode implementation of FIG. 2A. In the onecase of tag 72, there is no inductor, and in the case of the tag 80,there is an inductor which may be used to match the impedance of thediodes to the impedance of the antennas (antenna portions).

The tag 72 shown in FIG. 2C includes diodes 73 and 74 which are coupledtogether in parallel between antenna portions 75 and 76. The two diodesare in a parallel connection but with reversed cathode-anode (N-P)orientation. This configuration will produce a stronger second harmonicresponse from the tag because of the resulting full wave implementationof the frequency doubling process. Thus, the tag (and hence the ballcontaining the tag) will be findable at a greater range. This doublediode may be formed in a single integrated circuit at substantially thesame cost as the single diode 56 shown in FIG. 2A. It will beappreciated that in such an integrated circuit, the P portion of thediode 73 is coupled to the N portion of the diode 74, and the P portionof the diode 74 is coupled the N portion of the diode 73.

The tag 80 shown in FIG. 2D is similar to the tag 72 except that aninductor 87 is included in this tag's circuit. The inductor 87 iscoupled in parallel with the two diodes 83 and 84, which are coupled inreverse cathode-anode orientation as in the case shown in FIG. 2C. Thetwo diodes and the inductor are coupled in series between the antennaportions 85 and 86 as shown in FIG. 2D. The inductor 87 is an optionalfeature which may be used to match the impedance of the diodes to theimpedance of the antenna portions 85 and 86.

FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view taken through the center of a golfball of one embodiment of the invention. The cross-sectional view is inthe plane of the tag which in this embodiment is a planar structureformed primarily by two antenna portions 106A and 106B. An end view ofthe tag in FIG. 3B clearly shows the substantially planar structure ofthe tag. The cross-section of FIG. 3B is taken along the line 3B-3B asshown FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C shows a magnified view of a portion of the tagwithin the bubble 120 shown in FIG. 3D. It will be appreciated that thebubble 120 is not a structural feature of the tag or the ball 100, butrather, is merely shown for purposes of illustration so that the portionbeing magnified can be easily recognized. FIG. 3D shows the same view ofa golf ball 100 as FIG. 3A except that FIG. 3D includes variousexemplary dimensions for the tag and ball shown in FIG. 3D.

The golf ball 100 shown in FIG. 3A includes a shell 102 and a core whichis formed from core material 104. The shell 102 is sometimes referred toas an outer cover shell. The tag includes an antenna 106, having antennaportions 106A and 106B, and a diode 110, and a transmission line 112.The outer perimeter 103 of the tag substantially conforms with the outerdiameter of the core formed from the core material 104. The antenna 106which includes antenna portions 106A and 106B is electrically coupled tothe diode 110 through a conductive adhesive 114A and 114B (shown in FIG.3C). In one embodiment the conductive adhesive is solder. In analternative embodiment, the conductive adhesive is a resilientconductive epoxy which includes metallic powder which is conductive andwhich is mixed with the epoxy. Examples of such resilient conductiveadhesives include conductive adhesives from Tecknit (seewww.tecknit.com) and an adhesive such as adhesive 2111 from BondlineElectronic Adhesives, Inc. The use of a compressible, and resilientconductive adhesive will improve the chances of the connection betweenthe diode and the antenna surviving many shocks due to the golf clubhead hitting the golf ball. The transmission line 110 is coupled betweenthe two antenna portions 106A and 106B as shown in FIG. 3A. Referringback to FIG. 2B, the transmission line 112 corresponds to thetransmission line 58 of FIG. 2B, and the antenna portion 106Acorresponds to the antenna portion 52, and the antenna portion 106Bcorresponds to the antenna portion 54, while the diode 56 of FIG. 2Bcorresponds to the diode 110 of FIG. 3A. The tag in the ball 100 of FIG.3A includes several perforations or openings which exist from one sideof the tag through and to the other side of the tag. These perforationsinclude the void or perforation 108 which is within the central portionof the tag, and the perforations 109A and 109B and 109C which are on theantenna portions 106A and 106B as shown in FIG. 3A. Other perforations,not labeled with numerals are also shown on the antenna portions 106Aand 106B. These perforations may be regularly spaced or irregularlyspaced on the antenna portions. All the perforations shown in FIG. 3Aare within the outer perimeter 103 of the tag. These perforations allowthe core material 104 to extrude through the perforations during themanufacturing process such that a unitary core material is formedthrough the perforations, thereby providing for greater durability ofthe golf ball. This can be seen from FIG. 3E which shows across-sectional view of the ball 100 taken around the region of theperforation 109A, where the cross-sectional view is perpendicular to theplane of the antenna portion 106A. As shown in FIG. 3E, the antennaportion 106A includes perforation 109A. As a result of the moldingprocess described below, the core material 104 is extruded through theperforation 109A forming a unitary structure on both sides of theperforation and through the perforation as shown in FIG. 3E. A similareffect occurs at all of the other perforations, such as the perforation108 which is centrally located within the outer perimeter 103 of thetag.

FIG. 3D shows various exemplary dimensions for a tag and ball, such asthe golf ball 100. The exterior or outside ball diameter is about 1.68inches. The inside diameter of the shell 102, which coincides with theoutside diameter of the core is about 1.5 inches. The approximatediameter of the outer perimeter 103 of the tag is about 1.36 inches. Theapproximate diameter of the centrally located perforation 108 isapproximately 0.76 inches. The approximate diameter of each of the eightperforations on the antenna portions 106A and 106B is approximately0.125 inches in diameter. These eight perforations in the two antennaportions 106A and 106B are located substantially on a circle which has adiameter of 1.06 inches. The angular separation between these eightperforations is approximately 33°, while the angular separation betweenthe end perforations and the centerline 100A is about 40°. The distancefrom the centerline 100B, which horizontally intersects the center ofthe ball 100, to the top of the antenna shown in FIG. 3D, is about 0.533inches. Thus, the typical top to bottom length of the antenna 106 in theview shown in FIG. 3D is about 1.066 inches. The following dimensionsare with respect to the “U” shaped transmission line 112 which iscentrally located within the perforation 108 as shown in FIGS. 3A and3D. This “U” shaped transmission line is formed from the same coppermaterial as the antenna portions 106A and 106B. Typically, the antenna106 and the transmission line 112 are formed from a unitary piece ofcopper which is etched to have the shape shown in FIGS. 3A and 3D, andthen the diode 110 is attached through a conductive adhesive as shown inFIG. 3C. The width of the transmission line 112 is about 0.06 inches.Including this width, the “U” shaped transmission line 112 extends fromthe centerline 100B up towards the top of the ball shown in FIG. 3D byapproximately 0.136 inches. There is a perforation or void between theinside edges of the “U” shaped transmission line. The size of this voidfrom one side of the inside edge of the “U” shaped transmission line tothe other side of the inside edge of the transmission line isapproximately 0.06 inches. The gap from the centerline 100A to an insideedge of the “U” shaped transmission line is about 0.03 inches.

It is often desirable to mount an antenna in a tag, such as antenna 106,on an insulating substrate. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A through3E, the tag is mounted on a dielectric (insulating) substrate, which inthis case is a layer of an insulator known as Kapton, which isapproximately 0.005 inches thick. The Kapton layers 118 and 119 shown inFIG. 3C leave open the void created by the “U” shaped transmission line.In effect, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A through 3E, where thereis no copper (e.g., antenna), there is no Kapton such that the Kaptondoes not exist in the perforation 108, and does not exist in theperforations in the antenna portions, such as perforations 109A, 109B,and 109C. In this manner, the perforations exist from one side of thetag to the other side of the tag thereby allowing the core material 104to extrude through the perforations to form a unitary structure of corematerial from one side of the tag through and to the other side of thetag. It will be appreciated that the Kapton may be allowed to exist incertain places where there is no copper (antenna), such as in the voidof the copper of the “U” shaped transmission line. In this case, thereis no perforation in the Kapton and no perforation in the tag whichallows for the extrusion of core material through the perforation in themolding process.

The ball 100 shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3D may be constructed in a mannersuch that complies with the specifications for a golf ball of the U.S.Golf Association or the R&A. For example, the weight of the golf ballwithout the tag will be approximately 45.50 grams but not exceeding45.927 grams (total ball and tag weight), and the weight of the tag (allcomponents) may be about 0.359 grams, which results from the combinationof the weight of the Kapton dielectric, the copper antenna, the diode,and the conductive adhesive, each of which respectively are 0.157 grams,0.182 grams, 0.004 grams, and 0.0156 grams. The size and shape of thegolf ball as shown in FIG. 3A is within the specifications for a golfball of the U.S.G.A. (United States Golf Association) or the R&A andthus, the weight and size of such a golf ball complies with thespecifications of the U.S.G.A. or the R&A. Furthermore, it has beendetermined that a golf ball with a tag such as that shown in FIG. 3A hassufficiently high durability to comply with the durabilitycharacteristics of golf balls normally approved by the U.S.G.A. or theR&A for tournament play. For example, a golf ball of the form shown inFIG. 3A will normally survive many cannon hits, which is theconventional way of testing the durability of golf balls. Most golfballs designed according to the embodiment of FIG. 3A survive at least20 cannon hits and many such golf balls survive nearly 40 cannon hits,which is considered to be a desired goal for durability of golf balls.Furthermore, it has been found that the flight characteristics (e.g.initial velocity) of a golf ball such as golf ball 100 shown in FIG. 3A,substantially complies with the flight characteristics of golf ballsspecified by the U.S. Golf Association or the R&A. Thus, the overalldistance the ball travels with normal hits, and its initial velocity andother parameters normally specified in the requirements of the U.S.G.A.or the R&A under their standard testing procedure, are satisfied by thegolf ball fabricated as described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D show an alternative embodiment of a golf ballaccording to the present invention. The golf ball 130 shown in FIGS. 4A,4B, 4C, and 4D is very similar to the golf ball 100 shown in FIGS. 3A,3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E. The golf ball 130 has substantially the samespecifications as the golf ball 100, as shown by the measurements ofFIG. 4D and the measurements of FIG. 3D. Moreover, the tag of the golfball 30 includes a diode 110 and an antenna 132 which is similarlyshaped to the antenna 106 of FIG. 3A. Moreover, a transmission line 134is similarly shaped to transmission line 112 of FIG. 3A. Furthermore, ashell 102 having an outside diameter of about 1.68 inches surrounds thecore material 104 which has an outside diameter (corresponding to theinside diameter of the shell 102) of about 1.5 inches. A tag having anantenna 132 formed by antenna portions 132A and 132B, is coupled to thediode 110 and to the transmission line 134. A perforation 136 is locatedwithin the outer perimeter of the antenna 132 and serves a similarpurpose as the perforation 108 of FIG. 3A. However, the antenna portions132A and 132B do not include perforations (unlike the antenna portions106A and 106B of FIG. 3A which do include perforations, such asperforations 109A and 109B). This can be seen in the view of FIG. 4Awhich is a cross-sectional view of the plane of the tag; this view showsthat there are no perforations in the antenna portions 132A and 132B,unlike the perforations in the antenna portions 106A and 106B of FIG.3A. The view shown in FIG. 4B is similar to the view shown in FIG. 3B.This view may be considered to be an end view which is parallel with theplane of the tag and which shows how a diametric axis which passesthrough the center of the golf ball is substantially aligned with adiametric axis of the tag formed primarily by the antenna 132. Thebubble 142 is shown for illustrative purposes in FIGS. 4B and 4C, and isunderstood to be not required to be a part of the physical structure ofthe golf ball, but is used rather for purposes of illustration. FIG. 4Cshows a magnified view of a portion within the bubble 142. Thismagnified view shows that the diode 110 is coupled by a conductiveadhesive 138A and 138B to their respective antenna portions 132A and132B. The conductive adhesive 138A and 138B may be similar to theconductive adhesive 114A described above. The antenna portions 132A and132B may be a copper conductor which has a thickness of approximately0.0014 inches thick. A substrate which is an insulator, such as Kapton,may be applied below the copper antenna. The Kapton does not exist inthe perforation area 136, and thus this perforation area allows for thetwo portions of a core precursor which is placed within a mold to bindthrough the perforation 136 to perform a unitary structure, such as thestructure shown in FIG. 3E, wherein the structure extends through theperforation as shown in FIG. 3E. The perforation 136 is contained withinthe outer perimeter 133 which substantially conforms with the outerdiameter of the core member as shown in FIG. 4D.

FIGS. 5A through 5P show various golf ball components which include tagshaving various shapes and configurations which are alternativeembodiments of the present invention. At least some of these embodimentsshare certain characteristics which will now be described beforedescribing each of these particular embodiments in FIGS. 5A through 5P.In certain of the embodiments, the tag structure is substantially planarand symmetrical about a diametric axis which passes through the centerof a golf ball. The tag structure is substantially in one plane whichintersects (substantially) the center of the golf ball and has an outerperimeter which conforms to the inner contour (diameter) of the shell,which itself conforms to the outer diameter of the core in the case ofthe two-piece golf ball. The diode in certain embodiments is typicallycoupled to the antenna along the diametric axis. There is an internalvoid or perforation around a transmission line within certainembodiments of the tag. As can be seen from the various embodiments, thediode will be positioned either substantially at the center of the golfball or substantially off-center. The diode in some embodiments issubstantially near the center of the ball (e.g. FIGS. 5C and 5E) and inother embodiments it is not (e.g. FIGS. 3A and 4A). At least two typesof transmission lines are shown having two distinct shapes; one caseinvolves a “U” shaped portion which is bisected by the diametric axis ofthe golf ball, and another type of transmission line includes the “T”shaped transmission line which is also bisected by the diametric axis ofthe golf ball. Due to the perforations which exist in the tag, thesurface area of the plane of the tag is less than the surface area of across-section through the center of the ball. Many of the embodimentsdescribed herein include an antenna which has a first wing and a secondwing which is bisected by the diametric axis through the center of thegolf ball. The first wing and the second wing are symmetrical and haveat least one perforation which separates the first and second wings. Atransmission line which is coupled to the first and second wings issubstantially bisected by the diametric axis. At least a portion of theouter perimeter of the first and second wings substantially conforms tothe outer diameter of the core material of the golf ball.

Various alternative embodiments of tags which may be used in golf ballswill now be described while referring to FIGS. 5A through 5P. The golfball component 200 shown in FIG. 5A shows a tag within a core 204 whichthen can be encased in the shell to form a golf ball. The tag includes adiode 201 which is contained within the core material 206. The tag iswholly contained within the outer perimeter of the core 204. The tagincludes, in addition to the diode 201, a transmission line 210, and anantenna having antenna portions 208 and 209, which are coupled to thediode 201, and which are coupled to the transmission line 210 as shownin FIG. 5A. A central perforation, which is within the outer perimeter203 of the tag, is surrounded by the antenna portions 208 and 209.Various exemplary dimensions are shown in FIG. 5A. While the tag of FIG.5A has a transmission line of the same width as the transmission line ofFIG. 3A, and while the diameter of the outer perimeter of the antenna ofFIG. 5A is similar to the diameter of the outer perimeter of the antennaof FIG. 3A, the antenna is longer from top to bottom in FIG. 5A'sembodiment than the embodiment of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5B is another embodiment of a tag in a golf ball or golf ball core.The tag and core combination 220 includes an antenna having antennaportions 228 and 229 and a diode 221 which is coupled to the antennaportions 228 and 229. A perforation 222 centrally located within theouter perimeter 223 of the tag is also part of the tag's structure. Theouter perimeter 224 of the core material completely surrounds the outerperimeter 223 of the tag. It can be seen that the outer perimeter 223substantially conforms to the outer perimeter 224 of the core material.The embodiment shown in FIG. 5B does not include a transmission line.The view shown in FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken at a planewhich intersects the center of the core, wherein the plane which showsthe view is parallel with the plane of the antenna having antennaportions 228 and 229. Thus, the position of the tag shown in FIG. 5B issimilar to the position of the tag shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5C shows another embodiment of a tag in a golf ball core. The coreand tag combination 240 includes a diode 241 and antenna portions 248and 249 which are connected to the diode 241. A perforation 242 extendsalong the diametric vertical axis as shown in FIG. 5C. This perforationis also within the outer perimeter 243 of the tag. There are also “V”shaped perforations between the spokes of the antenna portions 248 and249. FIG. 5C shows a cross-sectional view of the tag within the core,and thus the view of FIG. 5C is the same as the view shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5D shows another embodiment of the tag and core combination 260which includes a diode 261 which is coupled to the antenna portions 268and 269. These antenna portions surround the perforation 262, which issimilar to the perforation 108 shown in FIG. 3A. The perforation allowsfor the core material 266 to extend through the perforation during themolding process described below. The outer perimeter 264 of the corematerial completely surrounds the tag shown in FIG. 5D.

FIG. 5E shows another embodiment of a golf ball 280 which includes atag. The golf ball shown in FIG. 5E is a two-piece ball having a shell285 which surrounds the outer perimeter 284 of the core material 286.The tag includes a diode 281 which is coupled between the two antennaportions 288 and 289. A transmission line 290 is also coupled betweenthe two antenna portions 288 and 289. The tag includes at least oneperforation 282 which is contained within the outer perimeter 283 of thetag. The view of FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional view wherein the plane ofthe view is parallel with the plane of the tag such that the view ofFIG. 5E is similar to the view in FIG. 3A. The tag as shown in FIG. 5Eis symmetrical about the centerline which coincides with a diametricaxis of the golf ball which diametric axis intersects with the center ofthe golf ball. It can be seen from FIG. 5E that most of the outerperimeter 283 of the tag conforms substantially to the outer perimeter284 of the core material 286. The tag shown in FIG. 5E is substantiallyplanar and symmetric about the diametric axis which intersects thecenter of the golf ball. The “T” shaped transmission line 290 isbisected by this diametric axis. It can also be seen from FIG. 5E thatthe surface area of the plane of the tag is less than thecross-sectional area of a plane through the center of the ball. Theperforation 282 allows for the core material 286 to be extruded throughthe perforations as a result of the molding process to produce a resultwhich is similar to that shown in FIG. 3E.

FIG. 5F shows another embodiment of a golf ball 300 which is a two-piecegolf ball including a shell 305 which surrounds the outer perimeter 304of the core material 306. A tag is contained within the core material306, and this tag includes a diode 301 which is coupled between antennaportions 308 and 309. The antenna portions 308 and 309 are coupled to atransmission line 310. The view of FIG. 5F is similar to the view shownin FIG. 3A, and is a cross-sectional view taken through the center ofthe golf ball. A perforation 302 exists between the two antenna portionsand within the outer perimeter 303. Additionally, there are “V” shapedperforations between the spokes of the antenna portions. The dimensionsshown in FIG. 5F, as well as all the other figures are in inches (exceptfor of course the angular dimensions which are in degrees).

FIG. 5G shows another embodiment of a tag in a golf ball according tothe present invention. The golf ball 320 is a two-piece golf ball whichincludes a shell 325 which surrounds the outer perimeter 324 of the corematerial 326. This golf ball may be formed in accordance with the methoddescribed below and shown in FIG. 7 and FIGS. 6A through 6D. The tagincludes a diode 321 which is coupled between antenna portions 328 and329. These antenna portions are coupled to a transmission line 330, andthese antenna portions surround a perforation 322 which is similar tothe perforation 136 shown in FIG. 4A and the perforation 108 shown inFIG. 3A. The perforation 322 is within the outer perimeter 323 of thetag. The view of FIG. 5G is a cross-sectional view taken through thecenter of the golf ball 320, and thus it is similar to cross-sectionalview of FIG. 3A. The tag of FIG. 5G is substantially a planar tag whichis symmetrical about the diametric axis which intersects the center ofthe golf ball 320. The outer perimeter 323 of the tag substantiallyconforms to the inner surface of the shell 325 and conforms to the outersurface of the core material 326. The “T” shaped transmission line 330is bisected by the diametric axis, and the diode 321 is located near thecenter of the golf ball. As can be seen from FIG. 5G, the antennaportions 328 and 329 resemble first and second wings which are bisectedby the diametric axis and which are symmetrical about this diametricaxis. The perforation 322 separates the first and second wings. As inthe case of the example shown in FIG. 3A, the perforation 322 allows forthe core material 326 to be extruded through the perforation during themolding process described below to yield a result which is similar tothat shown in FIG. 3E.

Another exemplary embodiment of a golf ball according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 5H, which is a cross-sectional view takenthrough the center of the golf ball 340 shown in FIG. 5H. The golf ball340 is a two-piece golf ball which includes a shell 345 which surroundsthe outer perimeter 344 of the core material 346. This golf ball 340 maybe fabricated according to the process described below relative to FIGS.6A through 6D and FIG. 7. The golf ball 340 includes a tag having adiode 341 which is coupled between antenna portions 348 and 349. Atransmission line 350 is coupled between antenna portions 348 and 349.The perforation 342 is contained within the outer perimeter 343 of thetag, and additional perforations which are “V” shaped exist between thespokes of the antenna portions 348 and 349. The various lineardimensions shown in FIG. 5H indicate the sizes of the various componentsshown in FIG. 5H and are in inches. It can be seen that the tagstructure of FIG. 5H is symmetrical about the diametric axis whichintersects the center of the golf ball. The diode 341 is substantiallynear the center of the golf ball 340, and the tag structure issubstantially planar. The ends of the spokes of the antenna portionsform an outer perimeter 343 which substantially conforms to the outersurface 344 of the core material 346. The “T” shaped transmission line350 is substantially bisected by the diametric axis which intersects thecenter of the golf ball 340.

Another exemplary embodiment of a golf ball according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 5I. FIG. 5I is a cross-sectional view wherethe plane of the cross-section is taken through the center of a golfball 360. The golf ball 360 is a two-piece golf ball having a shell 365which surrounds the outer surface or perimeter 364 of the core material366. Contained within the core material 366 is a tag which includes adiode 361 which is coupled between antenna portions 368 and 369. Anelongated transmission line 370 is coupled between the antenna portions368 and 369. A perforation 362 exists between the antenna portions 368and 369, an there are additional perforations which are “V” shapedbetween the spokes of the antenna portions. The perforations are withinthe boundary established by the outer perimeter 363 which is formedeffectively by the ends of the spokes of the antenna portions.

Another exemplary embodiment of a golf ball according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 5J, which is a cross-sectional view, wherethe plane of the cross-section is taken through the center of the golfball 380. The golf ball 380 is a two-piece ball having a shell 385 whichsurrounds an outer perimeter 384 of the core material 386. Whollycontained within the core material 386 is a tag which has antennaportions 388 and 389. The tag also includes a diode 381 which is coupledbetween the antenna portions 388 and 389, and further includes atransmission line 370 which is also coupled between the antenna portions388 and 389. The perforation 382 exists between the two antenna portions388 and 389, and this perforation is within the outer perimeter 383 ofthe tag as shown in FIG. 5J. This outer perimeter 383 substantiallyconforms to the outer perimeter 384 of the core material 386. The golfball 380 may be fabricated according to the method described belowrelative to FIGS. 6A through 6D and FIG. 7.

FIG. 5K shows another exemplary embodiment of a golf ball according tothe present invention. The golf ball 400 shown in FIG. 5K is a two-piecegolf ball which includes a shell 405 which surrounds the outer perimeter404 of the core material 406. Wholly contained within the core material406 is a tag which includes an antenna portion 408 and an antennaportion 409. The tag also includes a diode 401 which is coupled betweenthe two antenna portions 408 and 409. A transmission line 410 is alsocoupled between the two antenna portions 408 and 409. A perforation 402exists between the two antenna portions 408 and 409 and is containedwithin the outer perimeter 403 of the tag. The golf ball 400 will befabricated according to one of the methods described below such that thecore material 406 is extruded through the perforation 402 to produce aresult which is similar to that shown in FIG. 3E. It can be seen fromFIG. 5K that the tag is substantially symmetrical about a diametric axiswhich intersects the center of the golf ball 400. The tag issubstantially planar and includes a “T” shaped transmission line whichis also bisected by the diametric axis. In this embodiment, the diode401 is located substantially at the center of the golf ball 400.

FIG. 5L shows another exemplary embodiment of a golf ball of the presentinvention. The golf ball 420 shown in FIG. 5L is a two-part golf ballincluding a shell 425 which surrounds an outer perimeter 424 of a corematerial 426. The core material 426 wholly contains a tag which includesa diode 421 and two antenna portions 248 and 249 and the transmissionline 430. The diode 421 is coupled between the two antenna portions 428and 429, and the transmission line 430 is coupled between the twoantenna portions 428 and 429. The perforation 422 between the antennaportions separate the antenna portions and is similar to the perforation108 of FIG. 3A. In addition, the transmission line 430 includes aperforation. These perforations are within the outer perimeter 423defined by the ends of the antenna portions. The golf ball 420 may befabricated according to one of the embodiments described below for amethod of fabricating a golf ball. Thus, the extrusion of the corematerial 426 through the perforations will result in a structure whichis similar to that shown in FIG. 3E. The tag of FIG. 5L is asubstantially planar tag which is symmetrical about the diametric axisof the golf ball, which diametric axis intersects the center of the golfball 420. The T-shaped transmission line 430 is bisected by thediametric axis, and the tag structure is symmetrical about thisdiametric axis which coincides with the vertical center line shown inFIG. 5L. FIG. 5L is a cross-sectional view where the plane of thecross-section is taken through the center of the golf ball 420 and thusit resembles the view shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5M shows another exemplary embodiment of a golf ball according tothe present invention. The golf ball 440 is a two-piece golf ball whichincludes a shell 445 which surrounds an outer perimeter 444 of the corematerial 446. In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5M, it can be seenthat the tag includes a diode 441 and antenna portions 448 and 449 aswell as a transmission line 450. The diode 441 is coupled between thetwo antenna portions 448 and 449, and the transmission line 450 iscoupled between these two antenna portions. At least one perforation 442exists within the outer perimeter 443 of the tag, where the outerperimeter 443 is defined by the outer edge or perimeter of the antennaportions. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 5M is in a plane whichintersects the center of the golf ball, and the tag structure issubstantially planar and symmetrical about a diametric axis of the golfball which intersects the center of the golf ball. The golf ball 440shown in FIG. 5M may be fabricated according to the methods describedbelow such that the core material 446 is extruded through theperforations 442 during the molding process to yield a structure whichis similar to that shown in FIG. 3E.

FIG. 5N shows an exemplary embodiment of a tag of the present invention.The tag 460 includes antenna portions 468 and 469 and a diode 461 whichis coupled between these antenna portions. A transmission line 470 iscoupled to the antenna portions 468 and 469, and this transmission line470 surrounds the perforation 462, which perforation separates thetransmission line from the antenna portions 468 and 469. There is also aseparation between the antenna portions which may also be a perforation.The tag of FIG. 5N may be made small enough in its rectangular shape sothat it fits completely within the core material of a two-piece golfball. Alternatively, portions of the antenna portions 468 and 469 may betrimmed away to allow this tag to fit within a golf ball core or withina one-piece golf ball. The tag shown in FIG. 5N is a substantiallyplanar tag which may be placed in a plane in the golf ball core whichintersects with the center of the golf ball. In this position, thesubstantially planar tag of FIG. 5N will be symmetrical about thediametric axis of the golf ball, which diametric axis intersects thecenter of the golf ball. The tag of FIG. 5N may be introduced into acore material to fabricate a golf ball according to one of the methodsdescribed below relative to FIGS. 6A-6D and FIG. 7.

FIG. 5O shows another exemplary embodiment of a tag which may be used ingolf balls of the present invention. Tag 480 is similar to the tag 460except it includes additional perforations in the antenna portions 488and 489. The tag 480 includes a diode 481 which is coupled between theantenna portions 488 and 489 and includes a transmission line 490 whichis coupled between the antenna portions, in which, together with theantenna portions, defines the perforation 482. In addition to theperforation 482, nine circular perforations on each of the antennaportions provide additional openings for the core material to beextruded through the perforations, such as perforations 482A, 482B,482C, and 482D.

FIG. 5P shows another exemplary embodiment of a tag which may be used ingolf balls of the present invention. The tag 500 is a substantiallycircular tag which is also substantially planar. The tag includes adiode 501 coupled between antenna portions 508 and 509. The outerperimeter 503 of the tag 500 is substantially circular and includes aperforation 502 within the outer perimeter 503. A transmission line 510is coupled between the antenna portions 508 and 509. In addition to theperforation 502, perforations of different sizes are included on theantenna portions 508 and 509. In particular, smaller perforations 502Cand 502 are on the antenna portion 508, while larger perforations suchas perforations 502A and 502B are on the antenna portion 509. The tag500 may be included in a golf ball core and fabricated according to thetechniques described below. The perforations in this tag will allow forthe core material to be extruded through the perforations to create astructure similar to that shown in FIG. 3E.

FIG. 6A through 6D and FIG. 7 will now be referred to while describingvarious embodiments of methods of fabricating golf balls of the presentinvention. The following discussion assumes a two-piece ball having acore material which is surrounded by a relatively thin shell, such asthe golf ball shown in FIG. 3A. It will be appreciated, however, thatthe following discussion will also apply to one-piece golf balls and togolf balls having more than two pieces. The one exemplary method shownin FIGS. 6A-6D begins with a cylindrical-shaped slug 600 which, in oneembodiment, is about 1.375 inches high and has a diameter of 1.125inches. The cylindrical-shaped slug is typically a rubber compositionwhich has not been vulcanized. Examples of such compositions aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,508,350 and 4,955,613. In the exampleshown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the slug 600 is sliced in half to create slugportions 602 and 604. In certain embodiments, the material of the slug600 is an unvulcanized rubber which is extruded to form the shape of theslug 600. It will be appreciated that this is one method of forming thetwo portions as shown in operation 702 of FIG. 7. In an alternativeembodiment, these two portions may be formed separately as twoseparately extruded pieces or in some other manner to create the twoseparate portions separately rather than from a single slug such as slug600. These two portions may be considered golf ball precursor portions.After the two portions are created, such as portions 602 and 604, a tagsuch as tag 606 is placed between the two portions. The tag 606typically will include antenna portions 609 and 610 between which arecoupled a diode 608. The tag 606 may also include a transmission line610A which is disposed in the central perforation 607. The tag 606 maybe similar to the tag shown in FIG. 4A. Once the tag 606 is placedbetween the two portions 602 and 604, these portions are broughttogether to create the combined structure 620 as shown in FIG. 6C. Thecombined structure 620 includes the seam 615 which separates the twoportions 602 and 604. The tag 606 is sandwiched between the twoportions, preferably in the middle of these two portions, so that thetag will end up being substantially centered in the final core. The seam615 may not be sealed or glued together; that is, the two portions 602and 604 may not be held together by glue in the configuration shown inFIG. 6C. Typically, the extruded, unvulcanized rubber (which may be usedin certain embodiments) of the two portions has enough tackiness to holdtogether the tag and two portions 602 and 604. After the structure shownin FIG. 6C is obtained, the combined structure 620 is placed in a mold622 as shown in FIG. 6D and as described in operation 706 of FIG. 7. Themold is of a proper size to form a resulting core size of about 1.5inches in diameter. The core will typically weigh in the range of about34.75 to 35.25 grams. After the combined structure 620 is placed withinthe mold 622, the slug is molded, typically in a high temperature andhigh pressure operation. This molding operation, due to the hightemperature and high pressure, vulcanizes and cures the rubbercomposition from the two slug portions into one unit and also causesthis composition to flow through the perforations in the tags to createa unitary structure, such as the structure shown in FIG. 3E. In oneexemplary embodiment, the core rubber composition is vulcanized/curedfor eight minutes at a temperature of 325° Fahrenheit under a highpressure clamping of about 2 tons per square inch. After the moldingprocess of operation 708, the core is allowed to cool overnight at roomtemperature and then the surface is cleaned prior to injection moldingof the cover material, such as shell 102 of FIG. 3A, over the core.Examples of suitable cover material are known in the art, includingmaterials which are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,794. After encasingthe molded core into a shell as in operation 710 of FIG. 7, the ball maybe processed in finishing operations which involve ball trimming,surface cleaning, stamping/logo application and painting. As notedelsewhere, embodiments of the invention may be used in golf ballsconstructed as one-piece balls or more than 2 piece balls (e.g. ballshaving more than one core).

While several of the examples described herein show the slicing orforming of two slug portions (e.g. 602 and 604 in FIG. 6B or 1202 and1204 in FIG. 10B), it will be recognized that more than two slugportions may be combined together with one or more tags to form a golfball. For example, a cylindrically shaped slug (such as the slug 600 inFIG. 6A) may be sliced into four pieces which are then combined with atag or two tags or four tags to create an assembly which is similar tostructure 620 and which can then be molded into a golf ball or golf ballcore. The four pieces may each be half cylinders which have equal sizes.These four pieces may alternatively be separately formed by an extruderto create the four pieces rather than slicing a larger cylindrical slug.These four pieces may receive four tags between the inner faces of thepieces. FIG. 6E shows, in an exploded top view, an example of four slugportions 631, 632, 633 and 634 receiving four tags 637, 638, 639 and640; this assembly is, after the tags are inserted, placed into amolding chamber to form the golf ball (in the case of a one-piece golfball construction) or a core of a golf ball (in the case of a more thanone piece golf ball construction).

A description of various embodiments of a handheld transmitter/receiverwhich may be used as the handheld unit 14 of FIG. 1A will now beprovided in conjunction with FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C. In the exemplaryembodiments of FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C, the handheld unit consists of abattery powered transmitter and antenna radiating the radio frequencysignal in the 902-928 MHz band, and an antenna and a receiver operatingover the 1804-1856 MHz band, and an audio and visual interface to theuser of the handheld unit. The audio interface may optionally be anearphone rather than a speaker, and as an option, the handheld unit mayutilize a vibrating transducer to alert the user to the presence of aball. A visual display such as a meter or a string of LEDs may alsoprovide a proximity measure to the user so that the user can tellwhether or not the user is getting closer to the ball or further fromthe ball as the user walks around searching for the ball.

The handheld unit 800 shown in FIG. 8A includes a battery poweredtransmitter and battery powered receiver and an audio and visualinterface. The implementation shown in FIG. 8A uses a frequency-hoppingtransmitted signal that complies with the Federal CommunicationsCommission Rules Part 15.247 for intentional radiators. The radiofrequency transmitted signal originates in the synthesizer 804 which isan oscillator at twice the transmitted frequency which receives afrequency sweeping sawtooth modulation from a sweep driver 806. Thesynthesizer 804 also receives a control from the hopping-implementingsynthesizer driver 802 which causes the synthesizer to hop fromfrequency to frequency within the band 1804-1856 MHz. The output fromthe synthesizer 804 is amplified by the buffer amplifier 808 anddirected to a divide-by-two divider 810, the output of which is directedto a filter 812. The output from the filter 812 is directed to atransmitter amplifier chain 814 which provides an output to a filter 816which in turn provides an output to the transmitter antenna 818, therebytransmitting the radio frequency signal in the range of 902-928 MHz. Thetransmitter antenna is moderately directive and produces the radiatedsignal which can be reflected by a tag in a lost golf ball. The diode inthe tag causes the reflected signal to have double of the frequency ofthe received signal, which received signal was emitted by thetransmitter antenna. The proximity of the handheld unit to the golf ballwill in large part determine the magnitude/intensity of the reflectedsignal which can then be indicated by one of the user interfaces such asthe speaker or earphones or visual display or the vibrating transducerin the handheld unit.

The receiver of the handheld unit 800 includes a moderately directivereceiver antenna 830 which receives the reflected second harmonic signalproduced by the diode in the lost golf ball. This received signal isfiltered in filter 828 which provides the filtered output to a receiveramplifier chain 826 which amplifies the filtered signal, which is thenoutputted to a further filter, filter 824, the output of which isdirected to a mixer 822. The mixer 822 also receives the filtered outputof the amplifier 808 through the filter 820. The output of the mixer 822is an audio frequency difference product of the second harmonic of thefrequency swept transmitter signal, and the signal received from thefrequency-doubling tag within the ball. The audio frequency differenceproduct has a pitch that is determined by the sweeping of thetransmitter frequency and the time delay between the transmitted andreceived signals. Thus, the pitch of the audio frequency differenceproduct provides an indication of the distance between the handheld unitand the lost golf ball. The audio frequency difference product from themixer is provided through a DC block 831 which provides the output(filtered for DC level) to an amplitude equalizer and filter 832 whichprovides an output to an audio amplifier and conditioner 834 whichdrives the speaker 836. A visual display 838 is also coupled to theamplifier and conditioner 834 to provide a visual display of theproximity of the golf ball and then optional handheld vibratingtransducer 840 may provide a vibrating output, the intensity of thevibration increasing as the ball approaches the handheld unit. It willbe appreciated that any particular handheld unit may have one or more ofthese indicators. For example, it may have only a speaker or a headphoneoutput or it may have only a visual display or only a vibrating displayor it may have two or more of these outputs.

The handheld unit 850 of FIG. 8B is similar in structure and operationto the handheld unit 800 except that the frequency synthesizer 856operates in the band 902-928 MHz rather than double that frequency as inthe case of synthesizer 804. Accordingly, there is no divide-by-twodivider in the handheld unit 850 but rather there is a 2× frequencymultiplier 868 in the handheld unit 850. The handheld unit 850 is animplementation that uses a frequency-hopping transmitted signal thatcomplies with the FCC Rules Part 15.247 for intentional radiators. Theradio frequency transmitted signal originates in the frequencysynthesizer 856 which is an oscillator at the transmitted frequencywhich receives a frequency sweeping sawtooth modulation from a sweepdriver 854. The synthesizer 856 is controlled by a frequency hop driver852. The oscillator output from synthesizer 856 is amplified by thebuffer amplifier 858 which provides an output to the filter 860 and anoutput to the frequency doubler 868. The output from the amplifier 858is filtered in filter 860 and amplified in the transmitter amplifierchain 862 and then filtered in filter 864 to produce a transmittedsignal which is transmitted from the moderately directive transmitterantenna 866 in the band of 902-928 MHz. This transmitted signal may bereflected by a tag, causing a reflected signal at a double harmonic(twice the frequency) of the received signal from the transmitterantenna. The receiving antenna 880 picks up this reflected secondharmonic and provides this received signal to the filter 878 whichprovides an output to a receiver amplifier chain 876 which provides anoutput to a filter 874. Thus the received signal is filtered andamplified and provided as an RF input to the mixer 872 which alsoreceives a filtered input from the 2× frequency multiplier 868. Themixer 872 produces at its output an audio frequency difference productof the second harmonic of the frequency swept transmitter signal and thesignal received from the frequency-doubling tag within the ball. Theaudio frequency difference product has a pitch that is determined by thesweeping of the transmitter frequency and the time delay between thetransmitted and received signals. This audio frequency differenceproduct is output through a DC block 881 to an amplitude equalizer andfilter 882 which in turn outputs a signal to the audio amplifier andconditioner 884 which drives the speaker 886. In addition, the amplifierand conditioner 884 provides an output to a visual display and thevibrating transducer 888.

FIG. 8C shows another embodiment for a handheld unit which consists of abattery powered transmitter and an antenna radiating at about 915 MHz,and an antenna and receiver operating at about 1829 MHz. Theimplementation of FIG. 8C uses a direct sequence spread spectrum radarsystem which includes the transmitter and a receiver and a control unit,which in this case is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The basicclock signal for the FPGA 902 is obtained from the local oscillator 922which provides inputs to the amplifiers 920 and 924 which in turn drivethe FPGA 902 and a phase-locked loop synthesizer 926. During a power-onoperation, the FPGA 902 programs the phase-locked loop synthesizer 926to the correct frequency of operation. This occurs through the controllines from the FPGA 902 to the phase-locked loop synthesizer 926. Thephase-locked loop synthesizer 926 is used to generate a local oscillator(LO) signal for the receiver. A receiver LO frequency is 1818.30 MHz. Afrequency divider 930 is used to generate a 909.15 MHz local oscillatorfor the transmitter which is filtered by a band pass filter 931(centered at 909.15 MHz (“FC”)). Deriving the transmit local oscillatorfrom the receiver's local oscillator not only eliminates the requirementfor a second phase-locked loop synthesizer, but virtually eliminates anyfrequency error (e.g. frequency drift) between the transmitter and thereceiver. The transmit local oscillator is modulated using a QuadratureModulator circuit. This Quadrature Modulator enables a single circuit toperform all of the following features: (1) it performs a basic On-OffKeyed (OOK) modulation used in radar systems. Operating with OOKmodulation not only provides an audio tone for the system but alsominimizes the heat generated by the amplifiers and the transmitter, suchas amplifiers 912 and 914; (2) the Quadrature Modulator produces aBinary Phase-Shift Keying (BPSK) modulation of the local oscillatorsignal and performs what is called a Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrumsignaling. This allows the handheld unit to operate in the 915 MHzindustrial, scientific and medical (ISM) and as a license-free deviceoperated under FCC Part 15.247; (3) the Quadrature Modulator 904provides a Single-Sideband translation of the local oscillator inputsignal to a transmit output frequency of 914.50 MHz. That is, the localoscillator signal is shifted up in frequency by 5.35 MHz. This frequencytranslation results in a received signal that is offset from thereceiver's local oscillator frequency by 10.7 MHz. Having the receivedfrequency that is offset from the receiver's local oscillator reducesthe magnitude of unwanted local oscillator leakage into the receiver'shigh gain amplifier chain, which may include amplifiers 942 and 944 and948 as shown in FIG. 8C. The output of the Quadrature Modulator 904,which includes multipliers 906 and 908 as well as the mixer 910, is aDirect-Sequence, Spread Spectrum signal containing OOK modulation at afrequency of 914.5 MHz. This signal is filtered by two band pass filters905 and 913 and amplified by two amplifiers 912 and 914 to approximately1 watt and is sent to a transmit antenna 916. The transmit antenna alsohas a harmonic trap 916A, which is used to further reduce any secondharmonic distortion, which if radiated, would interfere with thereceived signal from the tag in a lost golf ball. The QuadratureModulator 904 is controlled by the FPGA 902 which provides and generatesa Pseudo-Random Binary Sequence used for the Direct-Sequence SpreadSpectrum signal. The FPGA 902 also provides and produces the OOK controlsignals to the modulator 904 and generates and provides the In-Phase andQuadrature-Phase signals applied to the Quadrature Modulator 904.

An alternative embodiment for the handheld unit shown in FIG. 8C is tochange feature (1) of the Quadrature Modulator to implement 90-degreephase shift keying at the audio tone frequency, instead of On-Offkeying. Features (2), Direct-Sequence Spectrum Spreading, and (3),Single-Sideband translation remain the same. The FPGA 902 produces the90-degree phase shift keying signal applied to the Quadrature Modulator904. When the tag in the golf ball doubles the transmitted frequencyfrom 914.5 MHz to 1829 MHz, the tag also doubles the amount of phaseshift keying modulation to 180-degree keying. The re-radiated signal isactive 100% of the time, instead of nominally half-time for On-Offkeying, and the receiver has twice as much signal energy to process inthe FPGA, A/D converter, and Post Demodulation processing. Thus themaximum useable range for finding the tag-equipped golf ball isincreased, with a related increase in power drain on the battery.

The receiver of the handheld unit 900 operates on the principle that thetag in the golf ball will produce a harmonic reflected signal, which inone embodiment, doubles the transmitted frequency of 914.5 MHz to areflected signal of 1829 MHz which re-radiates this doubled signal backto the receiver of the handheld unit. When a BPSK signal is squared, themodulation is removed and the energy in the modulated sidebands iscollapsed back into a single spur at a frequency twice the carrierfrequency. Thus the target (e.g. a tag in a lost golf ball) not onlyperforms frequency doubling (or generating some other harmonic), but inthe process, despreads the signal for free, eliminating the requirementfor despreading circuitry in the receiver of the handheld unit.Therefore, what is re-radiated from the tag in the golf ball is an OOKmodulated signal at 1829 MHz. The receiver receives this re-radiated(reflected) signal at the receive antenna 940 and filters and amplifiesthis 1829 MHz signal through the amplifiers 942 and 944 and the bandpass filters 941 and 943. Thus, the received signal from antenna 940 isfiltered in band pass filter 941 which outputs its filtered signal tothe amplifier 942 which outputs its filtered signal to the amplifier 942which outputs an amplified signal to the band pass filter 943 whichoutputs a filtered signal to the amplifier 944 which outputs a signal tothe mixer 946. The other input to the mixer 946 is the received localoscillator signal at a frequency of 1818.3 MHz which is received fromthe band pass filter 932. The mixer 946 performs a down-conversion to a10.7 MHz intermediate frequency (IF) by multiplying the amplified 928MHz signal received from amplifier 944 by the local oscillator signal of1818.3 MHz received from the band pass filter 932. This multiplication(also called mixing) produces two signals, one at the sum frequency of1347.3 MHz and the other at the difference frequency of 10.7 MHz. Thesum frequency is filtered out by the 10.7 MHz intermediate frequencyfilter 947 which provides an output to the amplifier 948. Thisintermediate frequency filter 947 has a very small bandwidth (15 kHz)that also eliminates most of the received noise and adjacent RF (RadioFrequency) interference. What remains out of the intermediate frequencyis a 10.7 MHz, OOK modulated signal that is amplified by amplifier 948and further amplified by an amplifier 950 which includes a generatorcircuit 950 that generates a Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI).This RSSI generator is not unlike an amplitude modulation (AM) detector,but with a logarithmic amplitude response. This RSSI function removesthe 10.7 MHz carrier, resulting in just the audio tone that was appliedto the signal in the transmitter. An 8-bit analog-to-digital (A/D)converter 952 converts the RSSI signal to a sampled digital signal. Thisdigitized signal then undergoes post-demodulation signal processing inthe FPGA 902 to further enhance the signal by reducing the noise by asmuch as 20 dB. This post-demodulation signal processing is performed bya Synchronous Video Generator (SVI) which performs an ExponentialEnsemble Average across multiple OOK radar bursts. The FPGA 902 isprogrammed to include the SVI which is used for the post-demodulationsignal processing. The FPGA 902 converts the output of the SVI circuitback to audio, which is amplified by an amplifier 958 which drives aspeaker or headphones 960. The digital-to-analog converter 962 may beused in conjunction with the FPGA 902 to convert the digital audiooutput to an analog output for purposes of driving the speaker 960 orheadphones. Optionally, a series of LEDs or a meter driven by thedigital-to-analog converter 956 may also provide a visual indication ofthe proximity of the golf ball to the user of the handheld unit 900.

FIG. 8D shows another embodiment for a handheld unit which consists of abattery powered transmitter and an antenna radiating at about 915 MHzand an antenna and a receiver operating at about 1829 MHz. The handheldunit 1000 of FIG. 8D is similar in some ways to handheld unit 900 ofFIG. 8C. The handheld unit 1000 includes band pass filters 1005 and 1013and amplifiers 1012 and 1014 in the transmitter portion of unit 1000. Inaddition, this transmitter portion includes a transmit antenna 1016which receives the amplified signal produced by amplifiers 1012 and 1014through a harmonic trap 1016A. The transmitted signal originates from acrystal oscillator 1022 and phase locked loop synthesizer 1026 whichproduce a signal at a reference frequency of about twice the transmittedsignal. A divide-by-two frequency divider 1030 and a band pass filter(BPF) 1031 provide the transmitter local oscillator signal to signalgenerator 1004 which is controlled by the PLD (Programmed Logic Device)1002. The output of the signal generator 1004 drives the amplifiers 1012and 1014, and the amplifier 1014 is controlled by OOK control from PLD1002. This OOK control pulses the transmitter on and off, in oneembodiment, with an On duty cycle of 50% or less. This will save batterylife and minimize heat generated in the transmitter. The transmitter mayalso include an adaptive power control which could extend battery life(and simplify the handheld's user interface). When no signal is detectedand when the receive signal strength is more than adequate fordetection, the unit could scale back the transmit power automatically,thus conserving battery power and freeing the user from having to adjusta power transmit control knob. The receiver portion of the handheld unitincludes receiver antenna 1040 which is coupled to BPF 1041 which inturn is coupled to amplifier 1042. The output of amp 1042 drives amp1044 through BPF 1043. The mixer 1046, which receives the output of amp1044, down converts this output to a 10.7 MHz intermediate frequencysignal which is amplified (in amp 1048) and filtered (in BPF 1049) andthen processed by amplifier 1050 (which may be an Analog Devices AD 607amplifier which generates an RSSI signal). The amplitude of the receivedsignal may be measured by a Cordic transform in microcontroller 1001.The RSSI signal is converted by an Analog to Digital converter in themicrocontroller 1001 which in turn drives a D/A converter and anamplifier and speaker 1060 (or some other appropriate output device).

Several three-dimensional tags having a substantial surface area in morethan one plane will now be described by referring to FIGS. 9A through 9Hand 10A and 10C. It will be appreciated that these are some of manypossible examples of three-dimensional tags, and it will be appreciatedthat the previously described planar tags may be formed to have asubstantially non-planar shape in the manner described below.

FIG. 9A shows an example of a spiral tag 1100 having a first spiralantenna portion 1101 and a second spiral antenna portion 1102 which arecoupled together through the diode 1103. The spiral antenna portion 1102includes an end 1107, and the spiral antenna portion 1101 includes anend 1106. In the case of the tag 1100, the winding direction throughboth antenna portions is maintained, as can be seen by beginning at theend 1107 and following the direction of the winding of the antennaportion 1102 through and into the antenna portion 1101, and ultimatelyarriving at the end 1106 while maintaining the same winding directionthrough both of these spiral antenna portions.

The example of the spiral antenna 1120 shown in FIG. 2B is a case wherethe first and second antenna portions are mirror images or complementsof each other; thus the winding direction is reversed between the twoantenna portions 1121 and 1122. These antenna portions are coupledtogether by the diode 1123 as shown in FIG. 9B. The complement or mirrorimage nature of the two spiral antenna portions can be seen by beginningat the end 1127 and winding in a winding direction of the spiral antennaportion 1122, which is an opposite winding direction relative to thespiral antenna portion 1121, where the winding begins at the end 1126.An electrical schematic of the spiral tags 1100 and 1120, as well as theother spiral tags shown in FIGS. 9D through 9H, is shown in FIG. 9C. Thetag 1130 of FIG. 9C includes a diode 1133 which is coupled betweenantenna portions 1131 and 1132. An inherent inductor, as shown in FIG.9C, is coupled in parallel across the diode 1133. The tag 1130 works ina manner which is similar to the tag shown in FIG. 2A, except that sucha tag has substantial surface area in more than one plane. Themultiplanar or three-dimensional tag described herein has improvedfindability relative to a tag which is substantially in one plane (e.g.such as the tag shown in FIG. 3A) due to the fact that single-plane tagshave dead spots. An example of a dead spot is when the tag lands in anorientation in which the plane of the tag is perpendicular to the waveswhich are transmitted from the handheld unit (see the signal 16 which isrepresented as waves originating from the handheld transmitter).

The spiral tags described herein, such as spiral tags 1100 and 1120,allow for the diode to be located near the center of the ball, which isdesirable for protection from shock and for meeting golf ball flight andbalance requirements. The structure of these tags provides greatercross-sectional areas in all planes, and this provides betterperformance than a single-planar tag which might land in an orientationwhere very little of the transmitted power is received by such asingle-planar tag. The structures of the spiral antenna portionsnaturally form an ideal shape for shock absorption. It will beappreciated that control of the winding radius and pitch may be used tocreate a structure which is resonant of both the transmit (e.g. 915 MHz)and receive (e.g. 1830 MHz) frequencies.

FIGS. 9D, 9E and 9F show examples of spiral tags which are containedwithin slugs which are used to form golf ball cores. These slugs aresimilar to the slug shown in FIG. 6C which includes the tag 606. Theslugs shown in FIGS. 9D, 9E and 9F may be formed by extruding the ballmaterial around the spiral tag or by inserting the spiral tag into avoid or cutout in each half-portion of a slug. After the spiral tag hasbeen placed within the slug, then the combination may be molded in ahigh pressure and high temperature vulcanization process which issimilar to that described relative to FIG. 6D above. This vulcanizationprocess or molding process creates the spherical golf ball core whichcan then be encased in a shell as described above.

The slug assembly 1140 includes a spiral tag having a diode 1143 whichis coupled between spiral antenna portions 1141 and 1142. This spiraltag is similar to the spiral tags shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C. Thespiral tag is included or encased within the slug material 1135 in anextrusion operation described above or by inserting the spiral tag intoa void between two half-portions of the slug material 1145. In the caseof FIG. 9E, the spiral tag has the spiral antenna portions or windingsinverted as shown in FIG. 9E, with the diode 1153 coupled between theseantenna portions 1151 and 1152. The spiral tag is encased within theslug material 1155 to form the slug assembly 1150 shown in FIG. 9E. Thespiral tag of FIG. 9E is electrically similar to the circuit shown inFIG. 9C. The spiral tag in the slug assembly 1160 of FIG. 9F is the sameas the spiral tag shown in FIG. 9E except that the spiral antennaportions are formed from flat wire (see, for example, FIG. 9G) relativeto the cylindrical wire used in FIG. 9E (see, for example, FIG. 9H). Theslug assembly 1160 has a spiral tag which includes the diode 1163 whichis coupled between spiral antenna portions 1162 and 1161 which areformed out of flatter wire than the spiral antenna portions 1151 and1152. The spiral tag of FIG. 9F is included within slug material 1165 toform this slug assembly 1160. It will be recognized that these spiraltags have perforations within their outer perimeters which allow amaterial to flow through the tag (e.g. in a molding operation).

The difference between the types of wires which may be used for thespiral antenna portions is shown in FIGS. 9G and 9H. In the spiral tagof FIG. 9G, the diode 1173 couples together flat wire antenna portions1172 and 1171, which have been formed into spiral antenna portions. Thistag 1170 is electrically similar to the tag shown in FIG. 9C. The tag1180 shown in FIG. 9H includes a diode 1183 coupled between spiralantenna portions 1181 and 1182. This tag 1180 is electrically similar tothe tag shown in FIG. 9C. The tag 1180 uses wire which has a cylindricalcross-section rather than the flat wire shown in the tag 1170 of FIG.9G.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary method 1301 for constructing a golf ball,which in the case of this method, has a spiral tag; this method may alsobe used with the various other tags described herein, such as themultiplanar tags of FIGS. 10A and 10C or the planar tags of FIGS. 3A and4A. This method may be used to construct one-piece or two-piece or morethan two piece golf balls. The extruder 1303 extrudes precursor portions1309 and 1311 from extrusion openings 1307 and 1305 respectively; theextruder 1303 pushes, in one embodiment, unvulcanized rubber materialwhich is used to form the core of a golf ball (and hence it may beconsidered a core precursor material). The extruder pushes the materialthrough the openings which have been designed to produce properly sizedprecursor portions. A knife or blade may be used to create abeginning/front edge and a back edge on the portions. The portions 1309and 1311 are then respectively transported (e.g. by a conveyor belt) toholders or fixtures 1319 and 1317 as indicated by arrows 1315 and 1313.These holders serve to hold the portions in place while a stamper 1323,having a mold 1321, robotically stamps an imprint of the mold 1321 intothe flat face of the portions 1309 and 1311. The mold is designed tohave a similar (e.g. substantially the same) shape and size as the tag(e.g. tag 1330) which is to be placed within the slug portions. The slugportions 1309 and 1311 are soft enough, and the mold 1321 hard enough,that a void, having a shape and size which is designed to receive atleast a portion of the tag, is created in the face of the portions bythe mold. It will be appreciated that the void, on one of the portions,is designed to normally hold about one-half of the tag (and the otherhalf is held in the void in the face of the other portion). Afterstamping the voids in the faces of the portions 1309 and 1311, twostamped portions 1327 and 1325 are created. These two stamped portions1327 and 1325 are then combined with a tag 1330 through a robotic arm1333 which places the tag 1330 into at least one of the voids 1328 and1329 in the portions 1327 and 1325. In one embodiment of this method,after the tag 1330 is positioned within at least one void, the roboticarm 1333 releases the tag 1330, and this allows the two half portions1327 and 1325 to be joined together with the tag 1330, in the voids 1328and 1329, sandwiched between the two portions. This assembly 1337 of tag1330 and portions 1327 and 1325 may then be processed further by placingthe assembly 1337 into a molding chamber to mold the ball or ball core(in a manner which is similar to the operation shown in FIG. 6D). Acamera and a motion/position control system may be used to properlyposition the tag 1330 into at least one of the voids 1328 and 1329.Alternatively, after the stamper 1323 is removed from the slug portionit imprinted, and before the portion is removed from its holder, anotherrobotic arm may place a tag into the just imprinted void while the slugportion is fixed within the holder. As another alternative, the tag maybe manually (e.g. by a human) placed within a void of a first slugportion and then the other slug portion is joined manually to the firstslug portion to create the assembly 1337. Further, the stampingoperation may also be performed manually.

All of the single-plane tags described above may be formed in a mannerto create a three-dimensional or multiplanar tag by twisting or bendingor otherwise forming such tags so that they have a three-dimensionalshape. FIG. 10A shows an example, in a top view, of an “S” shaped tag1200. This tag may be any of the tags shown in FIGS. 3A through 5P, andit may be formed by twisting or bending the antenna portions, prior toattaching the diode or after attaching the diode. After the tag 1200 isformed, it will be placed within a slug material which has been cut orotherwise formed to have a conforming shape to receive the “S” shapedtag 1200. An example of such slug portions is shown in FIG. 10B whichincludes slug portions 1202 and 1204 having been cut (or formed) into ashape to receive the “S” shaped tag. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6C, afterthe tag 1200 is placed within the slug portions 1202 and 1204, the slugassembly may then be placed in a molding chamber, similar to the chambershown in FIG. 6D, to mold the tag within the slug material to create agolf ball core having the tag. As noted above, the tag may includemultiple perforations or at least one perforation, allowing the corematerial to flow through the perforations in the multiplanar tag toprovide a unitary structure such as that shown in FIG. 3E in the case ofa multiplanar tag.

FIG. 10C shows another example of a multiplanar tag formed from asingle-plane tag such as any one of the tags discussed relative to FIGS.3A through 5P. In the case of FIG. 10C, the tag may be bent or twistedor otherwise formed into the shape shown in FIG. 10C. FIG. 10C is a topview of the tag 1210. FIG. 10D shows two slug portions 1212 and 1214which have been cut or otherwise formed to receive the tag 1210. The cutin the slug creates a void into which the tag 1210 is placed. FIG. 10Dis a top view of these slug portions and shows how the slug portions canreceive the tag 1210. After receiving this tag, the slug portions may bebrought together and placed within a molding chamber to mold the slugwith the tag 1210 into a golf ball core, similar to the operation shownin FIG. 6D above.

Examples of the use of carts with handheld units of the presentinvention will now be described relative to FIGS. 11A and 11B. In thecase of FIG. 11A, a golf cart 1250 which is motorized (e.g. an electriccart or gasoline powered cart) is shown having a cradle 1251 which isdesigned to receive and hold a handheld unit, such as the handheld unit14 of FIG. 1A. A battery recharger system 1252 is coupled to the cradle1251 to recharge the batteries (which may be rechargeable batteries) inthe handheld unit which is placed within the cradle. Thus, when thehandheld unit is not being used and is stored or stowed within thecradle 1251, it is charged by a recharging system 1252 which may drawits power from the batteries of the golf cart (or some other existingelectrical system of the golf cart). FIG. 11B shows an example of a pullcart which may be used in golf. The pull cart 1255 includes a cradle1256 which is designed to receive a handheld unit, such as the handheldunit 14 of FIG. 1A. The pull cart is shown without a recharging unit,but it will be appreciated that optionally it may include a rechargingunit (which includes a battery) to recharge the battery in the handheldunit while it is stored or stowed in the cradle 1256 of the pull cart1255. Golf bags, such as “shoulder bags,” may also include a cradle orholster for holding a handheld unit. These bags, such as Belding bags,are typically slung over the golfer's shoulder and carried in thismanner. These bags may optionally include a rechargeable battery torecharge the batteries in the handheld.

Various embodiments of the invention provide for methods of operatinggolf courses and methods of using findable balls with handhelds. The useof findable balls and handhelds will enable golfers to complete an18-hole round of golf at a golf course in less time because the timespent looking for lost balls is substantially reduced. A golfer with ahandicap in excess of 15 (more than 80% of worldwide golf players) willhit ten or more shots per round that do not land in the fairway. Theseoff-fairway shots are typically not lost but can be found within asearch time frame of about 10 seconds to 5 minutes. With a system asdescribed herein, such as a findable ball and a handheld unit, thissearch time frame is minimized and the pace of play is not adverselyimpacted. In fact, a typical golfer equipped with a handheld unit andfindable balls as described herein should experience an 8-12 minuteacceleration in the time it takes him/her to complete an 18-hole roundof golf. An 8-minute acceleration represents a 3% throughput improvementfor golf course operators who expect an 18-hole round to take about 270minutes. Golf course operators go to great lengths to communicate andenforce rapid pace of play. Score cards, golf cart signage, on-coursesignage and roving marshals all have a priority emphasis on speeding upplay. Much like a restaurant needs to move tables, the golf courseoperator needs to get as many players as possible through the course ina given day. Thus, the findable balls and handhelds described herein maybe provided by golf course operators to the players so that the golfcourse operators may achieve this accelerated throughput which willincrease the profitability of the golf course operator by increasingrevenue to the golf course operator. There are numerous ways in whichgolf course operators may utilize aspects described herein. For example,a golf course operator may give a discount, such as a discount on thegreen fee, to a golfer who will use a findable ball and handheld but notgive such a discount to a golfer who does not use a findable ball andhandheld. The golf course may rent or provide for free findable ballsand handheld units to those golfers who do not have their own or mayrequire all golfers to use findable balls and handheld units. A golfcourse may, after the course closes, cause its employees to search forfindable balls containing tags which remain on the course after thecourse has closed in order to retrieve such balls. By doing so, thecourse will have fewer such balls and thus there will be fewer falsepositives (e.g. finding someone else's lost ball from a prior round ofgolf). The golf course may also employ other methods if findable ballsand handheld units are used. For example, the golf course may decide tocut the grass less often in rough areas, allowing this grass to growhigher than is normally done in golf courses which do not use findableballs and handheld units to find the balls. This will tend to decreaseexpenses for the golf course. The golf course may charge for the use ofa golf course (an 18-hole round of golf) based on the amount of timeused if the golfer does not use a findable ball and handheld unit, butif the golfer does use a findable ball and a handheld unit, then thecharge is a fixed amount or a fixed amount up to a certain amount oftime to play the round of golf.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of one particular method of using findableballs and a handheld. This method may be performed largely by the golfcourse. The method 1260 shown in FIG. 12 is one example, and it will beappreciated that there are numerous other examples in which differentoperations are performed in different sequences or are not present oradditional operations are present. Upon registering with the golfcourse, the golf course determines whether a golfer has findable ballsand handhelds (operation 1261). If the golfer does have findable ballsand handhelds and will use them, then a green fee discount (or someother discount) or some other legal consideration is given to the golferwho will use the findable balls and handheld (operation 1263). If thegolfer does not use findable balls and a handheld, then in operation1265 the golf course may rent or provide for free findable balls andhandhelds for use by the golfer, but the golfer will not, in thisexample, receive a green fee discount. Thus, whether or not the golferhas brought findable balls and a handheld unit for use with the findableballs, all golfers after operations 1263 and 1265 will be usinghandhelds and findable golf balls (operation 1267). If a ball gets lost,then a golfer may find the lost ball with the handheld in operation1269. After the golf course has closed for play (or after a round ofgolf has concluded), golf course employees may search for findable balls(using a handheld unit) which remain on the course. These balls arefound and then removed from the course so that fewer false positiveswill occur for the next rounds of golf which are played. It will beappreciated that this is an optional operation (operation 1271) whichmay not be performed by some golf courses. The operation 1271 may beperformed at some predetermined time (after the course closes) orotherwise (e.g. when it is decided that too many golfers are finding toomany false positives). The operation may be performed after each roundof golf or every other day after the course closes or once a week (e.g.Sunday night after the course closes) or at some other interval. Inoperation 1273, the golf course decides to cut the grass in the roughareas less often, thereby allowing it to grow higher. It will also beappreciated that this operation 1273 is also optional. As noted above,these operations may be performed in a different sequence or with moreor fewer operations than shown in FIG. 12 which is one example of amethod of operating a golf course. It will be appreciated that a typicalgolf course is not the same as a driving range, but golf courses mayinclude a driving range. It will also be appreciated that the foregoingdescription applies to clubs which include golf courses.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications of the variousembodiments described herein may be made. For example, each golf ballcould be printed with a unique identification number such as a serialnumber in order to allow a user to identify from a group of lost ballswhich lost ball is his/her lost ball. Alternatively, a quasi-uniqueidentifier, such as a manufacturing date when the ball is manufactured,may be printed on the outside of the ball so that it can be read by auser to verify that a user's ball has been found within a group of lostballs which have been uncovered by the handheld unit. As noted above,the embodiments of the present invention may be used with one piece orthree-piece golf balls in addition to two-piece golf balls describedabove. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the impedance ofthe diode may be matched to the impedance of the antenna. It will beappreciated also that the tags discussed above are passive tags havingno active components such as semiconductor memory circuits, and theantenna does not need to energize such active components such assemiconductor memory components.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evidentthat various modifications may be made thereto without departing fromthe broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to beregarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

1. A method for operating a golf course, the method comprising:determining whether a golfer will use a system to physically find andlocate a golf ball, the system including a radio frequency (RF) handhelddevice and the golf ball, wherein the RF handheld device is configuredto receive a RF signal from the golf ball in order to find the golf balland wherein the RF handheld device has a communication range of at leastabout 20 feet with the golf ball and provides a signal indicating theproximity of the golf ball based on receipt of the RF signal from thegolf ball; providing a legal consideration to the golfer if the golferwill use the system to find the golf ball when playing on the golfcourse, wherein the golf ball has high durability and substantiallycomplies with golf ball specifications of at least one of the UnitedStates Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient (R&A) Golf Clubof St. Andrews that may include size, weight and flight characteristics.2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising: requiring at least a groupof golfers to use the system.
 3. A method as in claim 1 furthercomprising: searching, by golf course personnel using the system, forlost golf balls from rounds of golf which have ended.
 4. A method as inclaim 1, wherein the legal consideration is at least one of (a) a greenfee discount; (b) a credit toward a future playing of golf; (c) amonetary payment or credit; or (d) a promise to perform an obligation.5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the RF handheld device is both atransmitting and a receiving device.
 6. The method as in claim 5 whereinthe RF handheld device transmits a RF signal at a first frequency andthe ball responds to the first frequency by radiating a secondfrequency.
 7. The method as in claim 6 wherein the second frequency is aharmonic of the first frequency.
 8. The method as in claim 6 wherein theRF handheld device complies with regulations of the FederalCommunications Commissions (FCC) during RF signal transmission andtransmits a RF signal of no more than about 1 Watt peak power or about 4Watts effective isotropic radiated power.
 9. The method as in claim 1wherein the golf ball further comprises a tag having a diode coupled toan antenna and wherein the diode is coupled to the antenna by acompressible and resilient material.
 10. The method of claim 9 whereinthe compressible and resilient material is also conductive.
 11. Themethod as in claim 10 wherein the second frequency is a harmonic of thefirst frequency.
 12. The method as in claim 9 wherein the tag is passiveand the antenna does not serve to provide power to any memory elements.13. The method as in claim 1 wherein the golf ball comprises a taghaving an integrated circuit coupled to an antenna by a compressible andresilient and conductive material.
 14. The method as in claim 13 whereinthe high durability includes being able to withstand at least 20 cannontest hits.
 15. A method for operating a golf course, the methodcomprising: allowing a golfer to play on the golf course; searching, bygolf course personnel, for lost golf balls from rounds of golf whichhave ended, by using a system to physically find said lost golf balls,the system including a radio frequency (RF) handheld device and at leastone golf ball, wherein the RF handheld device is configured to receive aRF signal from a golf ball in order to find the golf ball and the RFhandheld device and the golf ball has a communication range of at leastabout 20 feet, and wherein the RF handheld device provides a signalindicating the proximity of the golf ball based on receipt of the RFsignal from the golf ball; and wherein the golf ball has high durabilityand substantially complies with golf ball specifications of at least oneof the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient(R&A) Golf Club of St. Andrews that may include size, weight and flightcharacteristics.
 16. The method as in claim 15 wherein the handhelddevice is both a transmitting and a receiving device.
 17. The method asin claim 15 wherein the handheld device transmits a RF signal at a firstfrequency and the ball responds to the first frequency by radiating asecond frequency.
 18. The method as in claim 15 wherein the golf ballfurther comprises a tag having a diode coupled to an antenna and whereinthe diode is coupled to the antenna by a compressible and resilientmaterial.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the compressible andresilient material is also conductive.
 20. The method as in claim 18wherein the tag is passive and the antenna does not serve to providepower to any memory elements.
 21. The method as in claim 15 wherein thegolf ball comprises a tag having an integrated circuit coupled to anantenna by a compressible and resilient and conductive material and thehigh durability includes being able to withstand at least 20 cannon testhits and wherein the handheld device complies with regulations of theFCC during signal transmission and transmits an RF signal of no morethan about 1 Watt peak power or about 4 Watts effective isotropicradiated power.
 22. A method for operating a golf course, the methodcomprising: providing a system which a golfer can rely upon forphysically finding a golf ball, the system including a radio frequency(RF) handheld device and the golf ball and the RF handheld is configuredto receive a RF signal from the golf ball in order to find the golfball, and wherein the RF handheld device provides a signal indicatingthe proximity of the golf ball based on receipt of the RF signal fromthe golf ball, and wherein the RF handheld device complies withregulations of the Federal communications Commissions (FCC) duringsignal transmission and transmits an RF signal of no more than about 1Watt peak power or about 4 Watts effective isotropic radiated power, andwherein the golf ball comprises a tag having an integrated circuitcoupled to an antenna by a compressible and resilient and conductivematerial, has high durability which includes being able to withstand atleast 20 cannon test hits, and substantially complies with golf ballspecifications of at least one of the United States Golf Association(USGA) and the Royal and Ancient (R&A) Golf Club of St. Andrews that mayinclude size, weight and flight characteristics; requiring the golfer,as a condition of using the golf course, to use the system while playinggolf on the golf course in order to find a lost ball by using thesystem, wherein the RF handheld device and the golf ball of the systemhas a communication range of at least about 20 feet.
 23. A method as inclaim 22 wherein the providing is one of (a) allowing the golfer to usea handheld system which is owned by the golfer; or (b) allowing thegolfer to use a handheld system which is not owned by the golfer. 24.The method as in claim 22 wherein the handheld device is both atransmitting and a receiving device.
 25. The method as in claim 24wherein the handheld device transmits a RF signal at a first frequencyand the ball responds to the first frequency by radiating a secondfrequency.
 26. A method for operating a golf course, the methodcomprising: renting, to a golfer, a system to find a golf ball, thesystem including a radio frequency (RF) handheld device and a golf ball,the RF handheld device is configured to receive an RF signal from thegolf ball in order to find the golf ball and wherein the RF handhelddevice provides a signal indicating the proximity of the golf ball basedon receipt of the RF signal from the golf ball, wherein the RF handhelddevice complies with regulations of the Federal CommunicationsCommissions (FCC) during signal transmission and transmits an RF signalof no more than about 1 Watt peak power or about 4 Watts effectiveisotropic radiated power, and wherein the golf ball comprises a taghaving an integrated circuit coupled to an antenna by a compressible andresilient and conductive material, has high durability which includesbeing able to withstand at least 20 cannon test hits and substantiallycomplies with golf ball specifications of at least one of the UnitedStates Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club ofSt. Andrews that may include size, weight and flight characteristics;allowing the golfer to use the RF handheld device on a golf course tophysically find and locate the golf ball, wherein the RF handheld deviceand the golf ball has a communication range of at least about 20 feet.27. A method as in claim 26 wherein an operator of the golf course rentsthe system to the golfer.
 28. A method as in claim 27 wherein the systemcomprises a handheld unit and at least one ball having a tag in theball.
 29. A method as in claim 26 further comprising: searching, by golfcourse personnel, for lost golf balls from rounds of golf which haveended.
 30. The method as in claim 26 wherein the handheld device is botha transmitting and a receiving device.
 31. The method as in claim 30wherein the RF handheld device is configured to transmit a first RFsignal at a first frequency and to receive a second RF signal at asecond frequency.
 32. The method as in claim 30 wherein the secondfrequency is generated by the ball in response to the first frequencytransmitted from the RF handheld device.
 33. The method as in claim 32wherein the second frequency is a harmonic of the first frequency.
 34. Amethod for operating a golf course, the method comprising: determiningwhether a golfer will use a system to physically find and locate a golfball, the system including a radio frequency (RF) handheld device andthe golf ball, wherein the RF handheld device is configured to receive aRF signal from the golf ball in order to find the golf ball and whereinthe RF handheld device has a communication range of at least about 20feet with the golf ball, complies with regulations of the FederalCommunications Commissions (FCC) during RF signal transmission andtransmits a RF signal of no more than about 1 Watt peak power or about 4Watts effective isotropic radiated power, and provides a signalindicating the proximity of the golf ball based on receipt of the RFsignal from the golf ball, and providing a legal consideration to thegolfer if the golfer will use the system to find the golf ball whenplaying on the golf course, wherein the golf ball comprises a tag havingan integrated circuit coupled to an antenna by a compressible andresilient and conductive material, has high durability includes beingable to withstand at least 20 cannon test hits, and substantiallycomplies with golf ball specifications of at least one of the UnitedStates Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient (R&A) Golf Clubof St. Andrews that may include size, weight and flight characteristics.35. A method for operating a golf course, the method comprising:allowing a golfer to play on the golf course; searching, by golf coursepersonnel, for lost golf balls from rounds of golf which have ended, byusing a system to physically find said lost golf balls, the systemincluding a radio frequency (RF) handheld device and at least one golfball, wherein the RF handheld device is configured to receive a RFsignal from a golf ball in order to find the golf ball and the RFhandheld device and the golf ball has a communication range of at leastabout 20 feet, and wherein the RF handheld device complies withregulations of the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) during RFsignal transmission and transmits a RF signal of no more than about 1Watt peak power or about 4 Watts effective isotropic radiated power, andprovides a signal indicating the proximity of the golf ball based onreceipt of the RF signal from the golf ball; and wherein the golf ballcomprises a tag having an integrated circuit coupled to an antenna by acompressible and resilient and conductive material, has high durabilityincludes being able to withstand at least 20 cannon test hits, andsubstantially complies with golf ball specifications of at least one ofthe United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient(R&A) Golf Club of St. Andrews that may include size, weight and flightcharacteristics.